Chant adviser Yan Lee suggested that the RM46 billion project be reviewed by an international organisation specialised in public transport.

“Now that Pakatan Harapan governs the new Malaysia, we should be going for sustainable development, not more highways,” he told reporters at the intersection between Lengkok Jesselton and Persiaran Kuari today, where the access feeder road will be built and connected to Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway.

According to PTMP, PIL 1 will be a 20km-long highway running from Gurney Drive to the Penang International Airport and will be elevated over Penang Youth Park.

He highlighted that thousands of people who came to the park to exercise would have to realise that there would be a six-lane-wide highway hovering over their heads in future if the highway takes shape.

“Furthermore, because the feeder road here is two-lane wide, the state government will likely propose a road-widening project here and in Jalan Utama.

“Therefore, at least a few hundred trees will be chopped down in the process,” he claimed, stating that Penang Youth Park would not be as green as before.

Meanwhile, Yan Lee supported Penang Forum’s proposal, which was submitted in 2016, and hoped the Penang state government would use trams, railway transit, better buses and other public transportation as an alternative solution to highways.

“We should be focusing on moving people, not cars,” he said.

PTMP is a state-initiated project, costing an estimated RM46 billion, which features an undersea tunnel linking the island to the mainland, highways, LRT, monorail as well as extensive bus connectivity on both the island and the mainland.